Cairns Day One

Wow, we are so tired.  We did so much yesterday to get ready for this trip (we always do this stuff at the last minute - when will we ever learn?).  We got up at 5:00am and then our flight was late too. But the flight itself was pretty cool.  It takes 3 hours from Sydney.  We flew over inland western NSW and Queensland, then swung far out east over the ocean and the beginnings of the Great Barrier Reef, then back in again eastward to land in Cairns.  Sydney was cold and dark when we got up and we landed in bright blue skies and warmth, about 26C (79F).  Perfect.

We were tired, and a bit grungy.  So beer and a few prawns sounded right for an eye-opener. We had already eaten most of the prawns by the time I got my iPhone out for these.

Tiger Prawns on ice

They were perfect for the moment

This is the marina, safe in the Trinity Inlet.

And as sunset starts

Tonight is also the second State of Origin Rugby League match.  This is played between NSW & Queensland over 3 matches and Queensland has won for the last 6 years in a row. And here we are supporting NSW in Queensland turf.  So, we are watching the match, eating olives, spicy salami sticks and drinking Redbank "The Long Paddock " Chardonnay from Victoria.  Things are tough.

Tomorrow we will find our bearings better.  But the great thing is my cousin has dropped by as she lives here with her husband, who is in the Navy.  He is on board tonight, but sadly it seems his ship may have to go into dry dock tomorrow so we'll actually be able to spend some time with him, instead of him sailing off to Christmas Island or Ashmore Reef or some other remote place in the middle of the ocean.  And it's great to have the local touch.